Living in Argentina

The quality of life in Argentina is among the highest in South and Latin America. Our InterNations Country Guide gives you an overview of many different aspects of living in Argentina – from healthcare and insurance to traffic and international schools.

Although dangerous infections are fairly rare in Argentina, there have been confirmed cases of Dengue Fever in certain areas. The air pollution can also cause problems for those who have respiratory problems, so make sure you visit a doctor before moving.

Private insurance can be expensive, however, the majority of expats tend to think it’s worth the price. Waiting times in public hospitals can be very long so research you options thoroughly.

Argentina’s education system is of a fairly high quality but the main teaching language in the majority of public schools is Spanish. This means that the best option for older children especially may be one of the many international schools in Argentina.

Living in Argentina lets most expats lead a relatively comfortable life. Some of the most well-known indices, such as the Mercer Quality of Living Survey, routinely rank Argentina well above other Latin American nations. However, living in Argentina is not quite as carefree as in such first-rate places as, for example, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Nevertheless, only a few other cities in Central and South America – for example Montevideo in neighboring Uruguay – are ranked ahead of Buenos Aires by Mercer when it comes to the quality of life. In comparison to Brazil’s mega-cities, living in Argentina’s capital city is both safer and cheaper.

Across the country, however, strong inflation remains a central issue — the inflation rate in April 2016, for example, was recorded at 40.5%. As such, prices can be fairly volatile, which means that the average expenses of living in Argentina vary greatly.

Immunizations and Diseases: Planning in Advance

Your personal well-being is an essential part of an enjoyable and successful expat assignment. Most expats place a great emphasis on a clean environment, affordable health insurance options, and good medical care.

While living in Argentina, you can expect to be largely free of dangerous infections. Only in a few northern, forested areas does yellow fever pose any risk to residents so ask your doctor whether or not he thinks it is advisable to get vaccinated based on your travel plans. Similarly, Malaria is not all too prevalent. However, in 2009, 2011 and 2016 considerable dengue fever outbreaks were reported. Therefore, expats, as well as tourists, should protect themselves well against mosquito bites. Even the Buenos Aires area hasn’t entirely escaped such cases, so this is clearly something to watch out for.

In terms of immunization, travelers and expatriates are advised to at least refresh their routine vaccines (MMR, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, chickenpox, and influenza) in preparation for life in Argentina. Additionally, Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations are often recommended as well.

If you are intent on living in Argentina for the long haul, it may also be a good idea to get immunized against Hepatitis B. In any case, you should talk to your doctor, who may also suggest vaccines against yellow fever, rabies, and malaria.

Pharmacies and Physicians

If you live in or around the Buenos Aires metropolitan region, you should be aware that the area can be badly burdened by air pollution on occasion. This may aggravate existing health conditions, which you need to take into consideration if you suffer from any kind of respiratory diseases.

In general, regardless of the illness you may suffer from, you should pack enough of your prescribed medication for a couple of months. In this way, you avoid having to hurry around looking for a decent doctor living in Argentina. In most cases, seeing a physician requires health insurance.

Public Healthcare

Argentina’s healthcare system is fairly well developed, and it consists of three sectors. The first part of the healthcare sector includes public healthcare provided by the government to all residents.

For example, Argentine public hospitals are funded by the state to offer basic care and emergency services to everyone who is not otherwise covered by a medical insurance plan. Due to the several economic crises that have hit the country in the last few decades, many people living in Argentina have recently relied on such services. Most expats, however, opt for better coverage.

We do our best to keep this article up to date. However, we cannot guarantee that the information provided is always current or complete.